CONTROLLING POPULATION GROWTH
THE UNITED NATION’S INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE HAS CONCLUDED THAT WORLD POPULATION EXPANSION AND ECONOMIC (CONSUMPTION) GROWTH ARE THE TWO MAIN CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING! THE WORLD POPULATION NOW STANDS AT JUST OVER EIGHT BILLION PEOPLE AND IS CONTINUING TO EXPAND BY SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION ANNUALLY. THE CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES WE WILL BE CLOSE TO TEN BILLION BY 2050, AND ALMOST ELEVEN BILLION BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. THE MAJOR QUESTION FACING MANKIND IS, WHAT IS THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF PLANET EARTH?
CARRYING-CAPACITY IS DEFINED AS THE ABILITY OF THE ECOSYSTEM TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO SUSTAIN THE BALANCE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES LIVING WITHIN THE ECOSYSTEM. WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE CONCEPT OF CARRYING-CAPACITY FOR A NUMBER OF NON-HUMAN SPECIES FOR DECADES, AT THE EXPENSE OF HUMANITY.
POPULATION GROWTH RATES, SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, HAVE BEEN EXPANDING AT AN ALARMING NUMBER. IN 1804 THE WORLD POPULATION WAS ONE BILLION PEOPLE, AND HAS EXPANDED TO SLIGHTLY OVER EIGHT BILLION PEOPLE TODAY. ALTHOUGH LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO DEFINE EARTH’S HUMAN CARRYING-CAPACITY. ONE STUDY IN 2007, SUGGESTS THAT A WORLD POPULATION OF TEN BILLION PEOPLE WILL STRESS THE EARTH’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOOD, ENERGY AND RESOURCE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN LIFE.
WHEN COUNTRIES BECOME MORE AFFLUENT AND DEVELOPED, THEY TEND TO EXPERIENCE A SLOWING IN BIRTH RATES. CURRENT PREDICTIONS SUGGEST THE GLOBAL FERTILITY RATE, WHICH IS NOW 2.5 CHILDREN PER FEMALE, WILL FALL TO 1.8 CHILDREN PER FEMALE BY THE END OF THIS CENTURY. THIS IS A POSITIVE EFFECT; HOWEVER, LIFE EXPECTANCY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH IMPROVED MEDICAL PROCEDURES, THEREBY INCREASING OVERALL POPULATION NUMBERS. AT THE CURRENT TIME THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION GROUP IS THE NINETY-PLUS AGE GROUP. THERE ARE SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS WORKING ON METHODS TO EXTENDING QUALITY OF LIFE AS SOME PROJECTIONS SUGGEST WE CAN EXPECT WOMEN’S LIFE EXPECTANCY TO REACH 125 YEARS IN THE NOT TO DISTANT FUTURE. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY IS A RAPIDLY EXPANDING PROCEDURE IN THE FIELD OF AGE-MANAGEMENT. THE PROJECTED POPULATION ESTIMATES, BY THE CENSUS BUREAU, CONSIDERS THESE POSITIVE EFFECTS, BUT STILL PREDICTS ELEVEN BILLION BY 2100. THE UNITED NATION’S STATE;” A POPULATION INCREASE OF THIS SCALE WILL CREATE MAJOR INCREASES IN POLLUTION, REQUIRE A DOUBLING OF GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS (INCLUDING CLIMATE DISRUPTION), AND RESULT IN MORE PEOPLE SUFFERING DURING CONFLICTS AND FAMINES”. THIS MEANS WE WILL STRESS THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF EARTH BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.
THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IS CONSIDERABLY MORE COMPLEX! MOST OF THE STUDIES AND REPORTS TO DATE, FOCUS ON THE ABILITY OF EARTH TO PROVIDE FOOD, RESOURCES AND ENERGY. I FIND LITTLE EVIDENCE OF CONSIDERATION OF THE ADVERSE IMPACTS INCREASING POPULATION WILL HAVE ON THE NATURAL WORLD AND INDIVIDUAL ECOSYSTEMS. IN 2014 THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER REPORTED THAT EIGHTY TWO PERCENT OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS REGARD THE GROWING WORLD POPULATION TO BE A PROBLEM AS, “THERE WON’T BE ENOUGH FOOD AND RESOURCES”. THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOUNDATION, IN A SURVEY THE SAME YEAR, FOUND “POPULATION INCREASE TO BE AN ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL FUTURE THREAT TO MANKIND”. MASSIMO LIVI BOCEI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE STATES, “POPULATION….. HAS BECOME IRRELEVANT FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT, NOT WITH STANDING THE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY”. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY SCIENTISTS AND WORLD LEADERS SUGGEST TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING WILL PROVIDE INNOVATIONS REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN FUTURE LIFE. WITHOUT MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NATURAL WORLD, THIS EXPECTATION IS UNREALISTIC!
THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS ISSUE MUST BECOME A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION IN OUR DISCUSSIONS. THE PREDICTED POPULATION INCREASES WILL HAVE DEVASTATING ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL WORLD, RESULTING IN MAJOR CHALLENGES TO THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE. THINK ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS OF INCREASED POLLUTION IN OUR ATMOSPHERE, WATER SOURCES AND CLIMATE. WHAT ABOUT THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF DEFORESTATION ON OUR REMAINING FOREST COVERED LANDS, AS WE ARE FORCED TO CLEAR MORE LANDS FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. THE BALANCE OF THE ECOSYSTEMS HUMANS DEPEND UPON HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVASTATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE. A RECENT STUDY FROM SPAIN, SUGGESTS ONLY 3 PER CENT OF OUR WORLDWIDE ECOSYSTEMS ARE IN BALANCE AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WE HAVE ALREADY DEFORESTED THREE QUARTERS OF OUR ORIGINAL TREE COVERED LANDS, THE CARBON DIOXIDE LEVEL IN OUR ATMOSPHERE IS THE HIGHEST IN THE PAST 800,000 YEARS AND OUR RIVERS, LAKES AND OCEANS ARE BEING POLLUTED DAILY. WE CONTINUE TO DISPOSE OF MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WASTE AND TOXIC MATERIALS INTO OUR OCEANS, ALONG WITH THE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS THAT WASH INTO THE LAKES, RIVERS AND SEAS DAILY.
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SEVENTEEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS DESIGNED TO, “END POVERTY, PROTECT THE PLANET, AND ENSURE PROSPERITY FOR ALL”. THEY JUST ADDED THE EIGHTEENTH, “DAMPEN POPULATION GROWTH”. IT SOUNDS EASY, BUT ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL FERTILITY RATES HAVE HAD LITTLE SUCCESS. THE TWO COUNTRIES WITH THE LARGEST POPULATIONS, INDIA AND CHINA, HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS WITH LITTLE IF ANY SUCCESS. FROM 1979 TO 2015, CHINA LIMITED COUPLES TO ONE CHILD. SINCE 2021, THEY HAVE GONE TO A LIMIT OF THREE CHILDREN. OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE TRIED TO INCREASE FERTILITY RATES WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. RUSSIA ENCOURAGED LARGER FAMILIES TO REBUILD THE LOSS OF POPULATION FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I AND II. SOME COUNTRIES HAVE EVEN ATTEMPTED TO DICTATE STERILIZATION TO DAMPEN BIRTH RATES. GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO CONTROL FERTILITY HAVE FAILED PRIMARILY DUE TO OBJECTIONS TO LOSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND AUTOCRATIC CONTROL OF FAMILY PLANNING. FINDING ACCEPTABLE POPULATION PLANNING STRATEGIES WILL BE DIFFICULT, IF EVEN POSSIBLE.
THE UNITED STATES IS CURRENTLY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN A DEBATE OVER WOMEN’S HEALTH RIGHTS, WITH THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS OBJECTING TO POLITICIANS AND COURTS DICTATING CONTROL OVER ACCESS TO ABORTIONS. I SUSPECT THIS WILL BE A LOSING ISSUE FOR THOSE PUSHING THE CONTROLS. OVER-POPULATION IS A SOCIAL, MORAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE THAT DEMANDS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. IF WE EXPECT TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS; WE MUST FOCUS ON EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REDUCTION OF POVERTY AND PROPER MANAGEMENT OF OUR REMAINING NATURAL WORLD. MANKIND CANNOT SURVIVE WITH THE LOSS OF OUR NATURAL WORLD! MANAGEMENT GOALS FOR OUR LAND AND SEA ECOSYSTEMS MUST FOCUS ON MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THESE SYSTEMS SO THEY REMAIN IN BALANCE AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LIFE-SUSTAINING ELEMENTS REQUIRED FOR FUTURE LIFE. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE; HOWEVER, WAITING REDUCES OUR CHANCE OF SUCCESS! MAJOR CHANGES ARE REQUIRED IF WE HOPE TO LEAVE A DESIRABLE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS. LEADERSHIP WILL NOT PROVIDE THE DIRECTION AND SOLUTIONS; IT IS UP TO YOU AND ME. GREED AND INDIVIDUALISM MUST BE REPLACED BY A TEAM EFFORT. WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!
THE UNITED NATION’S INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE HAS CONCLUDED THAT WORLD POPULATION EXPANSION AND ECONOMIC (CONSUMPTION) GROWTH ARE THE TWO MAIN CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING! THE WORLD POPULATION NOW STANDS AT JUST OVER EIGHT BILLION PEOPLE AND IS CONTINUING TO EXPAND BY SEVENTY-FIVE MILLION ANNUALLY. THE CENSUS BUREAU ESTIMATES WE WILL BE CLOSE TO TEN BILLION BY 2050, AND ALMOST ELEVEN BILLION BY THE END OF THE CENTURY. THE MAJOR QUESTION FACING MANKIND IS, WHAT IS THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF PLANET EARTH?
CARRYING-CAPACITY IS DEFINED AS THE ABILITY OF THE ECOSYSTEM TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED RESOURCES AND ENERGY TO SUSTAIN THE BALANCE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES LIVING WITHIN THE ECOSYSTEM. WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE CONCEPT OF CARRYING-CAPACITY FOR A NUMBER OF NON-HUMAN SPECIES FOR DECADES, AT THE EXPENSE OF HUMANITY.
POPULATION GROWTH RATES, SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, HAVE BEEN EXPANDING AT AN ALARMING NUMBER. IN 1804 THE WORLD POPULATION WAS ONE BILLION PEOPLE, AND HAS EXPANDED TO SLIGHTLY OVER EIGHT BILLION PEOPLE TODAY. ALTHOUGH LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE TO DEFINE EARTH’S HUMAN CARRYING-CAPACITY. ONE STUDY IN 2007, SUGGESTS THAT A WORLD POPULATION OF TEN BILLION PEOPLE WILL STRESS THE EARTH’S ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOOD, ENERGY AND RESOURCE REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN LIFE.
WHEN COUNTRIES BECOME MORE AFFLUENT AND DEVELOPED, THEY TEND TO EXPERIENCE A SLOWING IN BIRTH RATES. CURRENT PREDICTIONS SUGGEST THE GLOBAL FERTILITY RATE, WHICH IS NOW 2.5 CHILDREN PER FEMALE, WILL FALL TO 1.8 CHILDREN PER FEMALE BY THE END OF THIS CENTURY. THIS IS A POSITIVE EFFECT; HOWEVER, LIFE EXPECTANCY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH IMPROVED MEDICAL PROCEDURES, THEREBY INCREASING OVERALL POPULATION NUMBERS. AT THE CURRENT TIME THE FASTEST GROWING POPULATION GROUP IS THE NINETY-PLUS AGE GROUP. THERE ARE SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS WORKING ON METHODS TO EXTENDING QUALITY OF LIFE AS SOME PROJECTIONS SUGGEST WE CAN EXPECT WOMEN’S LIFE EXPECTANCY TO REACH 125 YEARS IN THE NOT TO DISTANT FUTURE. BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY IS A RAPIDLY EXPANDING PROCEDURE IN THE FIELD OF AGE-MANAGEMENT. THE PROJECTED POPULATION ESTIMATES, BY THE CENSUS BUREAU, CONSIDERS THESE POSITIVE EFFECTS, BUT STILL PREDICTS ELEVEN BILLION BY 2100. THE UNITED NATION’S STATE;” A POPULATION INCREASE OF THIS SCALE WILL CREATE MAJOR INCREASES IN POLLUTION, REQUIRE A DOUBLING OF GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS (INCLUDING CLIMATE DISRUPTION), AND RESULT IN MORE PEOPLE SUFFERING DURING CONFLICTS AND FAMINES”. THIS MEANS WE WILL STRESS THE CARRYING-CAPACITY OF EARTH BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.
THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IS CONSIDERABLY MORE COMPLEX! MOST OF THE STUDIES AND REPORTS TO DATE, FOCUS ON THE ABILITY OF EARTH TO PROVIDE FOOD, RESOURCES AND ENERGY. I FIND LITTLE EVIDENCE OF CONSIDERATION OF THE ADVERSE IMPACTS INCREASING POPULATION WILL HAVE ON THE NATURAL WORLD AND INDIVIDUAL ECOSYSTEMS. IN 2014 THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER REPORTED THAT EIGHTY TWO PERCENT OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS REGARD THE GROWING WORLD POPULATION TO BE A PROBLEM AS, “THERE WON’T BE ENOUGH FOOD AND RESOURCES”. THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES FOUNDATION, IN A SURVEY THE SAME YEAR, FOUND “POPULATION INCREASE TO BE AN ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL FUTURE THREAT TO MANKIND”. MASSIMO LIVI BOCEI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE STATES, “POPULATION….. HAS BECOME IRRELEVANT FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT, NOT WITH STANDING THE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY”. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY SCIENTISTS AND WORLD LEADERS SUGGEST TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING WILL PROVIDE INNOVATIONS REQUIRED TO SUSTAIN FUTURE LIFE. WITHOUT MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NATURAL WORLD, THIS EXPECTATION IS UNREALISTIC!
THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS ISSUE MUST BECOME A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION IN OUR DISCUSSIONS. THE PREDICTED POPULATION INCREASES WILL HAVE DEVASTATING ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL WORLD, RESULTING IN MAJOR CHALLENGES TO THE SUSTENANCE OF LIFE. THINK ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS OF INCREASED POLLUTION IN OUR ATMOSPHERE, WATER SOURCES AND CLIMATE. WHAT ABOUT THE CONTINUED IMPACT OF DEFORESTATION ON OUR REMAINING FOREST COVERED LANDS, AS WE ARE FORCED TO CLEAR MORE LANDS FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES. THE BALANCE OF THE ECOSYSTEMS HUMANS DEPEND UPON HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVASTATED AND WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE. A RECENT STUDY FROM SPAIN, SUGGESTS ONLY 3 PER CENT OF OUR WORLDWIDE ECOSYSTEMS ARE IN BALANCE AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WE HAVE ALREADY DEFORESTED THREE QUARTERS OF OUR ORIGINAL TREE COVERED LANDS, THE CARBON DIOXIDE LEVEL IN OUR ATMOSPHERE IS THE HIGHEST IN THE PAST 800,000 YEARS AND OUR RIVERS, LAKES AND OCEANS ARE BEING POLLUTED DAILY. WE CONTINUE TO DISPOSE OF MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF WASTE AND TOXIC MATERIALS INTO OUR OCEANS, ALONG WITH THE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS THAT WASH INTO THE LAKES, RIVERS AND SEAS DAILY.
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS SEVENTEEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS DESIGNED TO, “END POVERTY, PROTECT THE PLANET, AND ENSURE PROSPERITY FOR ALL”. THEY JUST ADDED THE EIGHTEENTH, “DAMPEN POPULATION GROWTH”. IT SOUNDS EASY, BUT ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL FERTILITY RATES HAVE HAD LITTLE SUCCESS. THE TWO COUNTRIES WITH THE LARGEST POPULATIONS, INDIA AND CHINA, HAVE MADE ATTEMPTS WITH LITTLE IF ANY SUCCESS. FROM 1979 TO 2015, CHINA LIMITED COUPLES TO ONE CHILD. SINCE 2021, THEY HAVE GONE TO A LIMIT OF THREE CHILDREN. OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE TRIED TO INCREASE FERTILITY RATES WITH LITTLE SUCCESS. RUSSIA ENCOURAGED LARGER FAMILIES TO REBUILD THE LOSS OF POPULATION FOLLOWING WORLD WAR I AND II. SOME COUNTRIES HAVE EVEN ATTEMPTED TO DICTATE STERILIZATION TO DAMPEN BIRTH RATES. GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO CONTROL FERTILITY HAVE FAILED PRIMARILY DUE TO OBJECTIONS TO LOSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND AUTOCRATIC CONTROL OF FAMILY PLANNING. FINDING ACCEPTABLE POPULATION PLANNING STRATEGIES WILL BE DIFFICULT, IF EVEN POSSIBLE.
THE UNITED STATES IS CURRENTLY DEEPLY INVOLVED IN A DEBATE OVER WOMEN’S HEALTH RIGHTS, WITH THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS OBJECTING TO POLITICIANS AND COURTS DICTATING CONTROL OVER ACCESS TO ABORTIONS. I SUSPECT THIS WILL BE A LOSING ISSUE FOR THOSE PUSHING THE CONTROLS. OVER-POPULATION IS A SOCIAL, MORAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE THAT DEMANDS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. IF WE EXPECT TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS; WE MUST FOCUS ON EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, REDUCTION OF POVERTY AND PROPER MANAGEMENT OF OUR REMAINING NATURAL WORLD. MANKIND CANNOT SURVIVE WITH THE LOSS OF OUR NATURAL WORLD! MANAGEMENT GOALS FOR OUR LAND AND SEA ECOSYSTEMS MUST FOCUS ON MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THESE SYSTEMS SO THEY REMAIN IN BALANCE AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LIFE-SUSTAINING ELEMENTS REQUIRED FOR FUTURE LIFE. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE; HOWEVER, WAITING REDUCES OUR CHANCE OF SUCCESS! MAJOR CHANGES ARE REQUIRED IF WE HOPE TO LEAVE A DESIRABLE FUTURE FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS. LEADERSHIP WILL NOT PROVIDE THE DIRECTION AND SOLUTIONS; IT IS UP TO YOU AND ME. GREED AND INDIVIDUALISM MUST BE REPLACED BY A TEAM EFFORT. WE HAVE DONE IT IN THE PAST AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!
